4 ms·

I don't care if MS is a huge company, I cannot take this seriously with the ridiculous doublespeak. The last thing was a Linux Subsystem for Windows, and this

by jrm4 5y ago

I don't care if MS is a huge company, I cannot take this seriously with the ridiculous doublespeak. The last thing was a Linux Subsystem for Windows, and this is an Android Subsystem for Windows.

belltaco 5y ago
It's more like Windows' Subsystem for Android.
pxeger1 5y ago
I think I remember hearing that they originally wanted to call it LSW instead, but couldn't put "Linux" first because it's trademarked.
rndmio 5y ago
I always read it as; Windows (Subsystem for Linux) not (Windows Subsystem) for Linux
chipsa 5y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Services_for_UNIX https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Services_for_UNIX Similar name. And much older. Just imagine there's a '-' after the Windows.
dcminter 5y ago
At least it's short. Speaking as someone who used to be an "IBM VisualAge for C++ for OS/2" user. (s/developer/user/ edit for clarity) I don't really think it's doublespeak as such, just the weird corporate perspective. They built a subsystem that supports Linux so "Windows subsystem for Linux" makes logical sense at least. I think with that (twisted) perspective "Linux for Windows" would imply a version of Linux that was for running Windows applications. I wholeheartedly agree that "Linux for Windows" would be a better name for WSL, but I can see their point of view if I squint enough. Also, at least this new subsystem is consistently named; if you know what WSL is it's obvious what this is.
MikusR 5y ago
It's a Windows subsystem for running Android. What doublespeak?
- dr-detroit 5y ago
Jernik 5y ago
This is a Windows subsystem. It is a system that runs inside of Windows, so it is a Windows subsystem. What is this subsytem for? It is for running Android (or previously Linux) applications and software. I agree that it is confusing, but I think it is incorrect to say that the name is outright wrong.
- AnotherGoodName 5y ago
  To be fair to op I did expect this to be a link to something that allowed Windows to run on Android as well. In software 'for X' commonly refers to what it runs on. 'Doom for Windows' would run on Windows. A Windows subsystem for Android immediately implies a Windows subsystem that runs on Android. It's a very common usage and language is formed by the common usage. Microsoft have this backwards.
  - jodrellblank 5y ago
    It also commonly refers to what it does. 'Doom for blind people' would not run on blind people. 'Doom for trackballs' would not run on trackballs, it would let you use trackballs with Doom. > "It's a very common usage and language is formed by the common usage. Microsoft have this backwards." Product names aren't formed by common usage, they're defined by the company which creates them.
    - AnotherGoodName 5y ago
      >'Doom for trackballs' would not run on trackballs, I wouldn't put that past Doom porters :D

by jrm4 5y ago

I don't care if MS is a huge company, I cannot take this seriously with the ridiculous doublespeak. The last thing was a Linux Subsystem for Windows, and this is an Android Subsystem for Windows.

belltaco 5y ago

It's more like Windows' Subsystem for Android.

pxeger1 5y ago

I think I remember hearing that they originally wanted to call it LSW instead, but couldn't put "Linux" first because it's trademarked.

rndmio 5y ago

I always read it as; Windows (Subsystem for Linux) not (Windows Subsystem) for Linux

chipsa 5y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Services_for_UNIX https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Services_for_UNIX Similar name. And much older. Just imagine there's a '-' after the Windows.

dcminter 5y ago

At least it's short. Speaking as someone who used to be an "IBM VisualAge for C++ for OS/2" user. (s/developer/user/ edit for clarity) I don't really think it's doublespeak as such, just the weird corporate perspective. They built a subsystem that supports Linux so "Windows subsystem for Linux" makes logical sense at least. I think with that (twisted) perspective "Linux for Windows" would imply a version of Linux that was for running Windows applications. I wholeheartedly agree that "Linux for Windows" would be a better name for WSL, but I can see their point of view if I squint enough. Also, at least this new subsystem is consistently named; if you know what WSL is it's obvious what this is.

MikusR 5y ago

It's a Windows subsystem for running Android. What doublespeak?

dr-detroit 5y ago

Jernik 5y ago

This is a Windows subsystem. It is a system that runs inside of Windows, so it is a Windows subsystem. What is this subsytem for? It is for running Android (or previously Linux) applications and software. I agree that it is confusing, but I think it is incorrect to say that the name is outright wrong.

AnotherGoodName 5y ago
To be fair to op I did expect this to be a link to something that allowed Windows to run on Android as well. In software 'for X' commonly refers to what it runs on. 'Doom for Windows' would run on Windows. A Windows subsystem for Android immediately implies a Windows subsystem that runs on Android. It's a very common usage and language is formed by the common usage. Microsoft have this backwards.
- jodrellblank 5y ago
  It also commonly refers to what it does. 'Doom for blind people' would not run on blind people. 'Doom for trackballs' would not run on trackballs, it would let you use trackballs with Doom. > "It's a very common usage and language is formed by the common usage. Microsoft have this backwards." Product names aren't formed by common usage, they're defined by the company which creates them.
  - AnotherGoodName 5y ago
    >'Doom for trackballs' would not run on trackballs, I wouldn't put that past Doom porters :D